Regional Crime Victims Liaison

Crime Victim Services

Beginning June 2015, the cities of Schertz, Live Oak and Cibolo hired a Regional Crime Victim Liaison as part of a new Victim Services Division falling under the Criminal Investigation Division. The liaison works in conjunction with the detectives by providing support and follow-up to victims of family violence, sex crimes, child abuse, homicides, traffic fatalities, and aggravated assaults. Victim services bridges connection with local prosecutors and victim advocacy groups in order to streamline the process and create a more effective system. These partnerships will provide a roadmap through the criminal justice system and on to recovery for each victim.

It is the belief of these cities that there are many benefits to focusing on the immediate needs of those affected by crime. Not only is the individual crime victim given the assistance they need; the criminal case against the offender is strengthened, and the community is protected.

Victim services provide information and referral, crisis counseling regarding normal reactions to trauma, and a contact person for the victim and family survivors. Addressing these needs will in turn reduce the short term and long term effects of the trauma while helping to facilitate the victims' willingness and ability to cooperate with the Criminal Justice System in the investigation and prosecution of crimes.

This office also assists victims and family survivors with the process of filing for Texas Crime Victims' Compensation funds to aid qualifying victims and their surviving families with the expenses incurred as a result of a violent crimes.

Mission Statement

The mission of the Victim Assistance Program is to provide impassioned leadership, offer emotional support, and build partnerships with service providers and a commitment to empower victims of crime with the goal of preventing further victimization.

Texas Crime Victims Compensation

Crime Victims' Compensation may be available to pay the amount of expense reasonably and necessarily incurred for:

Medical, counseling, prescription and rehabilitative services

Partial loss of earnings because of a disability resulting from personal injury, participation in the criminal justice process, or seeking medical treatment

Child care for minor children to enable a victim or spouse of a deceased victim to continue employment

Certain funeral and burial expenses

Reasonable costs associated with crime scene cleanup

Reasonable replacement costs for clothing or bedding taken as evidence or made unusable as a result of the criminal investigation of a sexual assault

Qualifying for Compensation

The crime must be reported to law enforcement within a reasonable amount of time unless there are justified extraordinary circumstances.

Claim must be filed within three years unless good cause can be shown as to why the claim wasn't filed.

The victim must cooperate with law enforcement and prosecution efforts.

The victim must be the innocent victim of a violent crime who suffers personal injury.

The Regional Victim Services Crime Victim Liaison will assist you in applying for benefits from Crime Victims' Compensation. Upon request, we will provide you with the application and will send the application form and required documentation to Crime Victims' Compensation. Please allow us to assist you in obtaining these benefits if you feel you may qualify.

Notification of Basic Information on Jailed Suspects/Offenders

The Regional Victim Services Crime Victim Liaison will also assist you in registering for notification of basic information on jailed suspects/offenders and their scheduled court events (County Jail). You may also register online.

You can reach Nicole Douglass at 210-619-1250 for assistance Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., or by email.

National Domestic Violence Month

October is National Domestic Violence Month. If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence, please contact Nicole for information on options and resources. We have also provided links to family violence shelters and prevention: